Jungle MP Nadine Dorries: I'm the thorn in PM's side

MP NADINE Dorries was yesterday lounging beside a hotel swimming pool 10,000 miles away – unaware of the outrage among her Tory colleagues over her shock decision to appear on I’m A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here!

As the 55-year-old slapped on the suncream in Brisbane, fellow Tory MPs attacked her decision to enter the Australian jungle for up to a month. Michael Fabricant said she had “let down her colleagues and her constituency” while Simon Kirby tweeted: “MPs should be team players and there to represent their constituents.”

A “horrified” Sarah Wollaston called for her to return any fee to the taxpayer.

“It makes us look ridiculous and brings politics into disrepute,” she added. “If she wants to be a celebrity she should resign.”

The MP has been suspended from the Tory parliamentary party. But yesterday the decision was branded “loony” by former minister and Daily Express columnist Ann Widdecombe, who said it could backfire on the party if the MP should prove popular with TV viewers.

Westminster is a jungle anyway

Nadine Dorries

“If Nadine does get it right out there, they have got themselves into a very silly situation,” Miss Widdecombe told BBC Radio 4. Nadine, who described herself as “dating”, was among 10 contestants unveiled by ITV yesterday for the new series, which starts at 9pm on Sunday. She flew out this week without telling her parliamentary colleagues, but says David Cameron will be “relieved” to see the back of her. “I am a thorn in his side,” she said.

Justifying her absence, she said voters would see a new side to MPs, adding: “Westminster is a jungle anyway.”

A special meeting is to be called in her Mid-Bedfordshire constituency to decide whether any action should be taken against her.